THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
759

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of JANUARY, 1879.

NOTE.-Altitude of Bealey, 2,104 feet; Queenstown, 1,070 feet. The stations marked thus * are furnished with aneroid barometers only.

• 11 years only. † 12 years only.

NOTES FOR JANUARY, 1879.

Mongonui.---Fine weather with variable winds, strong from eastward on 12th, 13th, 23rd, and 24th; greatest rain recorded on 24th, 95 in.;
distant thunder on 6th.

Auckland.---Very warm early part, though temperature on the whole rather below average; wind fresh and strong throughout and pre-
vailed from S.W. to W.; small rainfall, the maximum recorded on 14th, 375 in.; thunder on 6th; fog on 13th.

Taranaki.---Very fine weather, remarkably dry; maximum rain on 28th, 09 in.; prevailing S.W., W., and N.W. winds, strong on 14th
and 15th from W., and on 31st from S.W.

Napier.---Heavy rain with thunder on 6th, when maximum fall was recorded, 1-96 in.; also a sharp thunderstorm on 16th, without much
rain; otherwise very dry, with prevailing N.E. winds and generally moderate; strong W. wind on 14th, and on 30th it blew hard
from S.W. for a short time.

Wanganui.---Very fine weather, little rain, the maximum recorded on 15th, 59 in.; prevailing N.W. winds, and strong on 14th, 15th,
30th, and 31st, a very strong gale on last date.

Wellington.---Generally fine bright weather during this month; the rainfall below the average, the maximum recorded on 14th, 810 in.;
prevailing N.E. and S.E. winds; strong on 13th N.E., and 14th S.E., with rain; towards end of month rather dull and threatening,
but no rain of consequence.

Nelson.---Very fine with prevailing westerly winds; greatest rain recorded on 13th, 87 in.; strong N.E. wind on 12th, and strong S.E.
on 22nd; thunder on 13th.

Cape Campbell.---Unusually heavy rain at times, the maximum recorded on 21st, 1.60 in.; otherwise very fine and bright, with prevailing
S.E. and N. W. winds, gales on 6 days.

Christchurch.---Early part fine; heavy rain on 14th from N.W., 1.04 in. recorded on 15th, the maximum; also rain on 15th from S.W.,
then fine to 30th, when heavy gale from S.W. set in continuing to 31st, no rain; at times very warm weather; prevailing winds
from N.E. and S.W., and strong from latter quarter on 30th and 31st.

Bealey.---Fine and warm throughout; maximum rain recorded on 14th, 2.80 in.; fog on 16th; gales or high winds on 4 days, generally
from N., from which quarter it prevailed.

Hokitika.---Showery weather with prevailing S.W. wind and frequently strong; maximum rain recorded on 14th, 3.08 in.; thunder on
14th; sheet lightning on 18th and 19th.

Dunedin.---Showery beginning, middle, and end of month, but intervals of very fine bright warm weather; maximum rain recorded on
14th, 2.060 in.; prevailing S.W. wind and strong on 31st.

Queenstown.---Fine throughout, although towards end rather cold and wintry; greatest rain recorded on 11th and 14th, 29 in.; prevail-
ing N. W. wind and moderate; stormy on night of 29th from S. W., often calm; snow on hills on 14th; fog on 7th and 14th.

Southland.---Fair average weather for time of year; prevailing S.W. winds and at times stormy; thunder on 19th; hail on 20th; maxi-
mum rain recorded on 11th, 1.35 in.

Waitangi, Chathams.---Generally fine weather with occasional showers; the maximum rain recorded on 29th, 77 in.; prevailing S.W.
winds and moderate; on 14th strong wind from N.E., and a gale from W. on 31st.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Generally fine weather for time of year throughout with small rainfall; the temperature about the average, and high atmospheris
pressure; winds on the whole moderate. Earthquake at Napier on 16th at 10.45 p.m., sharp; at Wanganui on 5th at 8.47 and 9.50 p.m.,
sharp, and on 12th at 6.20 p.m., slight; at Wellington on 5th at 8.45 a.m., smart, and 12th at 6.42 p.m., smart, with noise.

J. HECTOR, Inspector.